The multi-faceted life of Amar’e Stoudemire is one of the great untold stories, he is a professional basketball player of some significance, the published author of a children’s book, he’s got a cookbook on the way, he flits between being a vegan and a vegetarian while also eating kosher and he will spend part of this summer filming a Hollywood movie.

Oh, and he’s now a coach with a Canadian basketball team, taking on a job that he hopes helps the game thrive here while giving him a chance to celebrate his heritage.

Stoudemire, Florida born and bred and a proud American at nearly every level, is serving as an assistant coach with the Canadian men’s team that will take part in the Maccabiah Games later this month in Israel, known more popularly as the Jewish Olympics.

“It’s going to be interesting,” Stoudemire said in an interview Friday morning at a posh downtown Toronto hotel. “I’m a U.S.A. citizen but again I’m a multi-cultural guy, I don’t want to put myself in one box, I like to spread the love, if I can say that.”

The love he spreads is varied, for sure.

The New York Knicks centre hasn’t made a big fuss over his efforts away from the court but they paint a picture of a well-developed personality that’s far more than a typical NBAer. He figures the Maccabiah Games job — a three-week commitment — is just another way to show his versatility.

“It’s fun from the standpoint of it comes naturally to me,” he said of the book writing, movie making, coaching summer life. “It’s not that I’m over-exerting myself doing things, it’s not that it’s not a part of me. When you start doing things that are not a part of you and you start forcing yourself to do something, it doesn’t become fun.

“But if it’s you and you have passion for it, then it’s definitely fun for sure.”

Stoudemire’s involvement with Canada’s Maccabiah team played out mostly around him. The head coach of the team, Concordia’s John Dore, is a friend of Knicks GM Glen Grunwald, who once worked on Dore’s staff at the Games. Dore reached out to his old friend after Stoudemire made his Jewish heritage known publicly and the rest, as they say, is history.

“I think the game of basketball is definitely growing here for sure,” Stoudemire said before heading to practice with the team Friday afternoon. “I think with Steve Nash being the general manager of Canada Basketball, that’s going to be a great, great fit for the country. Myself, being Jewish and being able to coach in the Maccabiah Games and represent Canada is going to be fun.”

Stoudemire’s involvement is far more than ceremonial. He was in Toronto in April to work with players and plans to get as much on-court work in with them as possible.

“It’s kind of a get-your-feet-wet kind of deal,” he said. “I never thought I would coach but being still a player, it’s great because I can get out there and actually play with the guys and show the guys what I’m teaching them. It’s a great fit.

“Even though these guys are not NBA players, they’re still NBA fans and they’re tying to improve the game of basketball. That’s where my expertise comes into play, I can teach them the game.”

Stoudemire hasn’t been too busy not to notice the moves his NBA team has made this summer, including the addition of ex-Raptor Andrea Bargnani.

“I like Bargnani,” he said. “I’ve been a fan of his game since he set foot in this league. I think he’s a great stretch four, great shooter, can put the ball on the floor, he’s going to help us a lot.”

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